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On location: Cardinals 3, Pirates 2 198
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS Getting ready for the first pitch … Game: Pirates (67-63) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (70-59), 7:05 p.m., PNC Park Pitchers: LHP Francisco Liriano (3-10, 4.18) vs. RHP John Lackey (12-8, 3.88) TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan Online: Live box score / Multimedia / Official media notes
24/7’s tweet on Tabata quote:
Tabata: “When you go there (to minors) … you’ve got to be strong. If you’re not strong, you’re done”.
I could say something here, but it would be snarky.
Go ahead, Revvie, I double dare ya!
No, J-girl. People would think I’m not a Tabata fan. Imagine that.
Truly, I could care less who’s playing as long as it’s the best 25 and we’re winning.
Jandy, had to “upvote” you just to cancel out the downvote I saw here. Come on, guys.
Yeah, I did it…
I’m tellin’ Mom!
NMR’s a meanie
Oh, the possibilities you leave us considering, Revvie.
Haha, you said it, Ghostie
He soff!
I’ll say it. He’s done!
Getting the band back together…tabata, barmes….like tabata late to get a ball in play at least
Like this lineup
Tabby showed he had 9 lives when he f.i.n.a.l.l.y started delivering for us in the clutch, this time last year. This year, thought he had at last burned his last life. Yet here he is yet again, when everything is on the line. Maybe it’s good having a cat that just won’t die.
I was gonna add to his comment that he is done, but I want him to succeed because I want the Bucs to succeed, so I won’t say it.
A thought unspoken dies unborn.
That’s a great line. Unfortunately, now you’ve spoken it! :-O
LOL!
Lucky………our favorite player is back! Supposedly, he has been on a hot streak the last 8 games and raised his average to .281. Of course, 0 HR, 12 RBI & OPS @ .687.
And constant hustle, I’m sure Gunner.
Don’t think much of Lackey!
Don’t know what to think about Liriano!
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Since I declared that 24 — 12 finish would garner the division for Buccos, they are 3 — 1.
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21 — 11 to go!!!!
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Who’s on 1st? What’s on 2nd? I don’t know . . . 3rd base!
That’s Harrison’s next trick, Groatie. He’s going to play all the infield postions — at once! (The Cards are our Gas House Gorillas, after all).
Hard to imagine we could go 21-11, the rest of the way. Stan Savran said our best monlthy record is in July when we were 17-10. I doubt we can really improve on that mark.
You’re probably right, Dom. But Clint did take the Rockies on an amazing September run, a few years back. I don’t think our pitching has enough bullets, but then again, I didn’t think we did last year, either. Here goes…
Why?
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In July Bucs did not have Gerrit Cole. They did not have Neil Walker for a chunk of that. Aren’t their stability worth a coupe games each?
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Bucs just took 2 of 3 at a field they’ve only won 6 in a # of years.
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If they win, they’re in . . . simple as that!
Werent a lot of guys, such as Vance Worley, playing better in July?
Worley has had 2 bad outings in a row: are you deserting him now, after 10 good starts?
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Plus, Good Time Charlie will be back in 7 days to take a spot, maybe Worley’s.
Charlie might not be back, or so some are saying
Dom, your optimism is always inspiring.
The fans up here found Lackey a bit of an enigma. He will probably be semi-lousy, could pitch a gem.
Cardinals Lineup
1. Matt Carpenter (L) 3B
2. Peter Bourjos (R) CF
3. Matt Holliday (R) LF
4. Matt Adams (L) 1B
5. Jhonny Peralta (R) SS
6. Oscar Taveras (L) RF
7. Kolten Wong (L) 2B
8. Tony Cruz (R) C
9. John Lackey (R) P
Pirates Lineup
1. Josh Harrison (R) 3B
2. Travis Snider (L) RF
3. Andrew McCutchen (R) CF
4. Neil Walker (S) 2B
5. Russell Martin (R) C
6. Pedro Alvarez (L) 1B
7. Starling Marte (R) LF
8. Jordy Mercer (R) SS
9. Francisco Liriano (L) P
Thanks, JAL.
Put two St. Louis arches together and I’m McLovin’ this lineup.
Holy Cow!
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Compare those line-ups. Position by position.
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I see only one position where Cards are obviously superior. Two others may lean Cards way but could tend toward Bucs with defense a strong focus.
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4 spots Bucs superior, w/ 1-3 tossups.
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Beat ‘em Bucs!!!
Still comes down to the pitching. Liriano has to hold the Cards down
Just for kicks, which ones?
Made you look!!!
I’m not afraid to invite potshots!
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C — Bucs
1B — Cards
2B — Bucs
3B — toss up
SS — toss up (lean Bucs for defense)
RF — Bucs
CF — Bucs
LF — lean Cards, but I prefer Marte for defense/speed . . . I’m a BIG defense guy: Holiday gives away his edge with shoddy D
I wouldn’t have guessed had I not looked, but Starling Marte is actually hitting better than Matt Holiday this season.
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Marte is unquestionably the better baseball player at this point in each player’s career.
Peralta also has a clear advantage over Mercer, so we even out.
Holiday has really struggled hitting this yr, Groat. And, as you say, he’s bad in LF. I’d go with Starling all day long on that one. Agree otherwise. You didn’t mention pitching, but advantage to the Cards bullpen, I would say.
Johnny Peralta has been the most valuable shortstop in baseball not named Tulowitzki.
Quick!!!
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I need Heimlich!
National Mart of Records,
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I WILL agree that Peralta has been MVP of Card position players since Molina went down.
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His stability of position for Cards still does not make me think highly of him in League.
Peralta has been their big bat to offset their injuries.
Pretty much agree-might be a little less sold on CF-Cards have a really great defense guy & until Cutch turns on “monster mode” that is more a toss up.
Might give Marte the edge-he has been on fire since the All Start game.
Hard to believe Cards are ahead of Bucs
Cards CF great defense but barely hitting his weigh . . . . and he’s skinny!!
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No contest!!
At the risk of getting serious down votes – DRS for Bourjois +5
Cutch -7
John Jay has gotten hot-has helped offset some of the injury losses – helped my fantasy team too.
Carpenter not hitting as well as last year-but has had an ok august.
The Bucs look better on paper.
Just turned 26 while he was at Indy.
Still young – but needs to grow up if half the rumors are true.
He certainly had a nice finish last year – almost a 1 WAR over the last two months..
Yesterday was my fault. I should have known not to venture up to that place. I think the family and I are about 0-6 in Miller Park now. We have a good record elsewhere, though. Just not in that place.
Also, people in Milwaukee remain near the top of my MLB list in the hospitality dept. Very pleasant & polite crowd. That’s Wisconsin. Good people, IMO.
And has your daughter started classes? Soccer(Lacrosse?) practice yet? Ours are the same age. Mine just moved out and into her dorm, two days ago.
Yes, she started classes today, Ghost. Moved to school 3 weeks ago for soccer pre-season. Has been recovering from a concussion, so just cleared for contact at practice today. Fingers crossed!
Soccer — sorry! Too bad about the concussion, but glad she’s cleared and back in the mix. Div. I athlete: too cool! Let us know how her season goes.
Was that her on the Twitter pic?
Yeah, all 3 of my kids on that picture, Lucky.
What a good-looking family, Jim. Thought that was probably your kids on your Twitter pic.
Credit to my wife on having attractive kids, Lucky. She’s a 10.
Dang it, Jim!
Sorry! I should be confined to watching games in the man cave. The weekend was going so well.
Sweet Jimmie,
Did you leave early? If so, it’s your fault, since Buccos had Martin on 1st and HR guy in Pedro at plate, before K (surprise, surprise, surprise!)
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If you stayed to end, you were responsible for Marte’s and McCutch’s dongs, so then it’s Pedro’s fault only.
We stayed until the end, Groat. Fairly quick game. Great AB by Cutch. I had a feeling he was going to take one deep. I can’t believe that Fiers guy is pitching so well. But, he is. He pitched very well. Vance didn’t catch any breaks, but also didn’t pitch well.
Then, just between you and me, we know what the real problem was/is:
Your daughter goes to Carolina!
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But at least you are not overpaying, since it’s free!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for going to cheer on the Bucs.
My $.02 on Tabby replacing GP is we need a righty bat. I know, I know. Snider is hitting LHP well in his 30 ABs vs. them this yr. But, he’s never hit LHP consistently, & since GP was also not hitting them it was about to be a problem. Plus, Pedro/Ike – too many lefty hitters.
Hurdle must be ecstatic over his improved options.
Except where it counts, on the mound.
Sept 1, or a trade for that.
For now, he can satisfy his double-switch itch. Must have been killing him this past month. Hope some of them help.
Emmys are tonight as well. Annoyingly, not on Sunday this year. I know everyone loves Breaking Bad but I hope True Detective and Fargo bring home some hardware as well. Terrific shows. Also, I hope Lizzy Caplan wins because, well, she’s Lizzy Caplan. Go Bucs!
You’re a man after my own heart, Oshie.
Could not have put it any better.
Oshkosh b’Gosh,
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This is the rotating year for NBC, and CAN’T have Emmys competing with Sunday Night Football!!!!
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Loved me some True Detective!
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Nominators left off ’24’! Full of surprises this time! And Jack Bauer killed less this outing! Kinder, gentler Jack Bauer.
House of Cards – WHOA!! What a malevolent winner of a show!
Love that show, Karen.
Orphan Black got jobbed…
Great show – great acting…
Love Fargo too…
I’m loving Barmes back, as much for the fact that Nix and Martinez are gone, but also he is a solid D man with just enough sneaky clutch offense to make him a highly valuable bench guy.
Good Frankie? Hope so.
J Hay all day!
Lackey isn’t fooling anyone yet
Got our two lefties to ground out to short, though.
Name: Joshua Isaiah Harrison
Born: 7/8/1987
Birthplace: Second base
Funny, but people rolled their eyes at Barmes’ return. The real benefit there is finally getting Jordy a break here or there. Been playing a ton.
Absolutely and that is why he had an issue with his forearm earlier this month.
I never thought I’d pine for Barmes, but after the Martinez, Nix, Morel bench, I’m sure glad we have him. He might not be an upgrade many places, but he sure is here.
I think there must be open paint cans or something in the Pirates broadcast booth…Walk sounds like he’s got a screw loose
Pedrove that one!
Yeah Petey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don’t know why any pitcher would throw Pedro a fastball.
Should his new nickname be Cerrano?
Lackey was pissed he threw it…didn’t he watch any of the brewers games? lol
Is the Bull finally waking up?
BOOOM! Pedro with a crushed ball!
That sounds painful!
Apparently 1st base agrees with Pedro.
Maybe we have found our first baseman for the future. He was just hiding out at third base.
John Lackey will never be voted Miss Congeniality.
Would love to know what PA is doing when he’s hot vs. when he’s not.
He eats more spinach when he goes on these tears…and decides to eat more Twinkies when he’s not
So would he.
I’m no genius, but you can tell he’s being a little more patient, i.e. not swinging as hard as humanly possible at the first three pitches regardless of location…same for Marte…works for Cutch, right?
Careful Rev you might be formulating a conspiracy theory as a NH plan to make Barmes acceptable by feeding us a healthy dose of Morel, Nix, Martinez! Just kidding of course.
Stuart
Mine should be way up there as a response to Lucky.
Stu
Good point, Stu.
Will be signing up for the full package soon. Go Bucs!
Good to see you.
Brandie! Missed ya, lady!
BRANDIEEEEEEEE! Welcome back girl. Missed you.
Well, HEY, Ms. Branimal!
They’ve really let Lackey off the hook so far.
All this good contact, but it’s still 1 – 0.
Root telecast has an interview with Cole during last half inning. He was bombarded the whole time by thrown sunflower seeds by Volquez Tabby and Gaby. Nice to see Tabby is so grown up now. It’s heartening to know that Polanco will replace him eventually. Bolquez seems like a
nice happy guy. It would be nice to see him with the intensity of Liriano. Gaby? I think his days are numbered. Tony will be cheaper and hit as well or better. None of the three will be on the team next year.
Stuart
I’m surprised someone doesn’t talk to the players about the sunflower stuff…I’m not stick in the mud, but its friggin embarrassing if you ask me
Back in the day they would have been spittin tabac juice at Coles feet, not seeds…..
Oh, wait, silly me…. BID we would have the Gunner on the fifty thousand watt KDKA lookin for a bloop and a blast.
You mean they didn’t throw seeds on the radio? Oh wait.. one might have hit Murtagh or Leyland.
LOL
Stu
You didn’t want to hit Murtaugh because you didn’t want to wake him up.
I really don’t like the feel of this.
Letting Lackey get off to many hooks could very well come back and bit them in the arse later in this game. Need to push another 2 or 3 runs across the plate.
I’ve been thinking that all night.
Make them pay for walking the pitcher!
Is it just me or does Liriano look like (as the Gunner used to say), he’s “playin for all the money, marbles, and chalk”?
Stuart
great start by Frankie – need two more runs to make this a bit more comfortable.
Interesting decision coming up – do you QO Frankie?
Not even close!!!
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No way 3-win Liriano is worth $15 million!
If he were a 20 game winner they wouldn’t tag him for $15 million.
Good assessment, Milo!
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Pirate brass would choke on that number!!!
And if they aren’t signing Martin, I don’t see them signing Frankie.
Of course. Next year is the “other” of the every other years.
To me he always looks like he can win the game if he want to, and tonight her looks like he wants to.
Stu
Too many missed opportunities. Lunch box reverting to his former self??
OK National Mart of Records,
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2 on, 2 out. Peralta up.
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Chance to prove how good he is against faltering Liriano!
Five 2 two 2 three!!!!!!!
No more messing around..time to put some more runs on the board. 3, 4, 5 are up…and Pedro lays as the 4th man up this inning.
I don’t know how we got out of that mess. I will say that was one more example of the greatness of Martin as a catcher. Great geed by JHay also.
* feed
Good teams get outa those messes Jim… good team? Leaning that way on that play!
We’re good in the field, Puck – provided the opposition hits the ball to the right guys.
Pirates have 4 plus defenders – two of them started that play – great defense is nice to see.
I actually think Pedro will be a plus defender at first…
Wow.. that play is sooo sweet.
JHay fires to the plate, puts it where Martin can just turn and throw a strike to Pedro…. sweeeeet!
They’re obviously going to have to win this one 1-0. That’s allowed, I checked.
It is allowed Milo…but for those fans that bite their nails…maybe not a real good thing.
You may be right – hoping Pedro might have one more in him and afraid the Bucs will need at least one more.
Kolten Wong is a stiff.
Agree. Except for that one series earlier in the year against the Pirates.
I get the distinct impression we dknt want to pitch to Carpenter here.
Here’s where you need a lefty to get one left handed batter out.
I just hate the way Hurdle handles his bullpen.
Oh sure, now he goes to Wilson. Completely mangled by the manager.
Goes with “gut” far too often for my liking as well.
Like Wilson?
Was at the game. Hurdle didn’t have Wilson or Watson warming up before they pinchhit Jay. Talk about not thinking ahead, particularly since by then it was clear that Hughes was not pitching well.
Lackey getting the bunt down with 2 strikes was huge.
and that is why Cutch needs to be playing left field.
All three runs are on him
Seems to me his rib must bother him when he reaches down on the run. Thought so the other night, now I am convinced.
Good observation, Patrick.
Down vote if you like – but this is not the first time he has not made a basic play – I love Cutch and he will be great in LF – he does not have the arm for CF.
His greatest weakness.
Ya may be right about the arm LL… but the arm was not a factor on that play…misplayed the ball.
Cutch has more range in center than the others.
How many throws from center really get em at the plate?
Left or right.. ya.. center. not so much.
I may be wrong, but I read this as hurrying because he did not trust his arm – Marte – Planco and Snider all have a great shot at getting the runner at home – the ball was not very deep.
And Marte has as much or more range.
That’s what happens when other team comes through with runners in scoring position and we don’t.
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Uggh.
Good night, Irene. “These” pirates are not “those” pirates from last year. This squad simply does not have the stuff of a true contender. A good team, but by no means a great one.
Lol down voters….
How many blown holds this year?
This was a game that had to be won, with Lackey and his mediocre stuff on the mound. We let him off the hook in the early innings. Still 2 more shots, though.
Jim you are right on about the mediocre stuff.
But some guys have that little something extra. Lackey by all accounts is not very well liked but he competes. That is the attitude I loved in AJ.
I actually think the game turned on Pedro’s HR-clear he didn’t want to throw FB
I think you’re right. We gave Lackey new life & he made it count.
22nd blown save, all alone atop the NL.
slip sliding away…
Ike Davis to pinch-walk for Wilson.
Would rather have Lambo pinch hit…
Travis Snider is 1 for his last 16. Why are they waiting so long with Polanco ? Oh, I’m sorry. Thought it was April again for a second.
Crap, its not our year, no mqgic
Sure seems that way, Biz. We never seem to be able to get rolling for mire than a few games at a time.
Snider should have just K’d looking. Got to get Cutch up there.
I don’t really have the desire to look it up, but I would guess our record this yr in 1 & 2 run games vs the Brewers, Cards and Reds is not very good. We need to turn that around to have any chance at the playoffs.
Lambo homered again tonight…
Really good thing to keep him in Indy to try and get them into the post season…
Jon Jay is 1 for 8 lifetime against Justin Wilson. Sure hope someone asks Hurdle about his thought process (or lack thereof) in that 7th inning.
And now 4 for 9 against Jared Hughes.
That was curious.
Figures. Knew it. Always one batter too latte. Nice blast, though.
I guess we need to find a way to get Cutch up in the 9th with someone on base. Actually, as I think back, it would have been nice in the 1st inning if Snider had done his job and pulled the ball to get JHay over to 3rd for Cutch. We’d be tied.
3 games over .500 after 131 games. They’re just not very good.
What is a shame is that they had the opportunity. Everyone in the NLC has struggled for stretches. Those of us who wanted to see some significant $$ committed will always view this as a lost opportunity…
But paying down debt and focusing on yrs of control won out.
Standing ovation LL.
Thank Milo-coming from you that is special.
I know I annoy a lot of folks but I care and can’t stand the BS. I grew up in a time when winning & doing what it takes to win seemed to matter more.
Love the Pirates-but not the BMTIB…
Well said. I’m tired of the cheapness. We all know there is enough revenue for a higher payroll while still affording a profit. Higher attendance & all that goes with it, plus more national TV $$, and the spending is similar to last year … Sorry, but that doesn’t cut it.
No legit clean-up hitter on this team that can be counted on for RBIs — whatever it takes to get them.
Tough loss. In hindsight, it was poor use of bullpen. But when Frankie came out with one on and no out the Bucs only had one run. I do think frankie has been better than 3 wins this summer. Walker missed three pitches in ninth by a foot or more. Didn’t he have 3 hits last night?
Hurdle showing his true form as a below average manager. He has Wilson or Watson in the pen and he allows Hughes to pitch to Jon Jay. He is awful managing the pen.
Jared Hughes has been our very best pitcher out of the bullpen, this year. And he is not simply a rightie-on-rightie specialist. Sorry Florida, but blaming Hurdle here is Monday-morning quarterbacking (even if it’s Monday night).
Look at his walks, strikeouts and homers and his innings pitched. He is a ground ball specialist, but a pitcher can’t rely on that all of the time, because some will get through the infield. He’s the classic situational pitcher, not their best reliever.
He’s been their best reliever this year. Until tonight, an ERA of 1.66. Who cares if he’s primarily a ground ball pitcher? His job is to come in and eat the 7th inning when Hurdle calls. It’s worked all season. Watson’s pitched mostly well too, but he’s for later innings.
I can’t even remember the last time Melancon pitched. He and Watson need more work. When Hughes, Gomez & Wilson are pitching more than the best two relievers, it tells me something is not right.
Has been a little while for Melancon, now that you mention it.
For awhile there, I thought a bit too much was being asked of Watson. And now, Hughes is carrying a heavy workload while Watson watches. It’s tough managing a bullpen. I thought Clint had the magic bullpen touch last yr.
A lot of it falls on the offense the last 2 days. 4 HR & only 5 total runs. That’s not easy to do.
True, Jim. I like this offense much better than last year’s. But it does seem that they’re a tad too feast-or-famine. Can’t spread out your runs perfectly, of course. But the 4 HRs and only 5 runs to show for it won’t be good enough over this stretch we’ve entered.
Blame this one to a great extent on Hurdle not putting his bullpen pitchers in the best situation for them.
Sorry, you just don’t know what you’re talking about.
I returned the favor here, Ghostie